Georgia is starting the season in a familiar position—ranked No. 1—facing the high expectation that anything short of a third national title in four years would be a letdown.
Pressure? Not here.
Coach Kirby Smart has established a program that stays focused on the present, leaving others to worry about things like championships and legacies. It’s a lesson he learned well from his mentor, former Alabama coach Nick Saban.
“I’ve honestly never paid any attention to it, and we don’t talk about it as a team,” said Smart, who became the highest-paid coach in college football with a $13 million annual salary after a recent extension. “The expectation is that we will develop and focus on today’s work.”
The Bulldogs claimed back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, but last season fell short after a loss to Alabama in the SEC championship ended a 29-game winning streak and kept them out of the four-team playoff.
Taking out their frustration on an overmatched Florida State, Georgia cruised to a 63-3 victory in the Orange Bowl, setting themselves up as the clear No. 1 heading into 2024.
The playoff expands to 12 teams this season, and despite a challenging schedule, it’s hard to imagine Georgia not being in the postseason mix.
With Saban now retired from Alabama, there’s no doubt who the top dog in college football is. Smart has built a program at Georgia that’s essentially Alabama 2.0. Hop
But that’s for others to discuss.
“We still have the same standards that we’ve had here at Georgia for a long time,” said senior defensive back Dan Jackson. “We’re focused on this year, and right now.”
Cool Carson
Georgia’s championship hopes hinge on quarterback Carson Beck, who emerged as one of the nation’s top players in his first season as a starter after three years of waiting.
Beck completed over 72% of his passes for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns, with just six interceptions. He gave the Bulldogs a huge boost by deciding to return for another season, delaying his NFL draft entry to 2025.
Beck isn’t a fiery leader but lets his play speak for itself.
“Assertive isn’t exactly what he is,” Smart said. “He’s assertive in his checks and decision-making, which is more important than what he says to the whole team.”
Off the field
Smart continues to confront the perception that he doesn’t have a strong grip on his players’ off-field behavior.
The Bulldogs faced another round of off-field issues, most notably the arrest of receiver Rara Thomas on charges of cruelty to children and battery. He was dismissed from the team by Smart just before fall camp started.
Smart’s players have been involved in about two dozen driving-related violations, including DUI and speeding, with a fatal crash that claimed the lives of a player and a recruiting staffer in January 2023.
“Disappointing, I guess, is the best word,” the coach said.
On the defensive
Stifling defenses have been a hallmark of the Smart era, and 2024 looks to be more of the same with key returners like defensive end Mykel Williams, linebacker Smael Mondon Jr., safety Malaki Starks, and nose tackle Nazir Stackhouse.
“The guys have embraced what it means to play defense at Georgia,” said coordinator Glenn Schumann, who will be joined by Travaris Robinson, who left Alabama to become co-defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs.
New Dawgs
Smart secured the nation’s top recruiting class, which is no surprise, and also filled some gaps through the transfer portal.
Trevor Etienne arrived from Florida to lead the running back corps, Stanford transfer Ben Yurosek should help replace tight end Brock Bowers, who moved on to the NFL, and receiver Colbie Young joins from Miami to give Beck another target in the passing game.
The schedule
If the Bulldogs secure a playoff spot, no one will be able to claim they didn’t earn it.
Georgia kicks off the season on Aug. 31 against No. 14 Clemson in Atlanta and faces a brutal schedule of road games against three SEC teams ranked in the AP top 10: No. 5 Alabama (Sept. 28), No. 4 Texas (Oct. 19), and No. 6 Ole Miss (Nov. 9).
Add in home games against No. 15 Tennessee (Nov. 16), rivals Auburn (Oct. 5), and Georgia Tech (Nov. 29), plus the Cocktail Party game against Florida in Jacksonville (Nov. 2), and there’s no question Georgia has one of the toughest slates in the nation.
“When you step into the shoes of a University of Georgia football player, you accept that challenge is going to be there,” Smart said. “We embrace that and we love it.”
